Originally an item of lingerie, corsets have become a popular item of
outerwear in the fetish, BDSM and gothic fashion. In the fetish and BDSM
literature, there is often much emphasis on tightlacing.

Advantages and disadvantages of corsets

Advantages of Corsets

* Corsets can reduce pain and improve function for people with back problems or
other muscular/skeletal disorders.
* Some large-breasted women find corsets more comfortable than brassieres,
because the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the
brassiere's shoulder straps. (Straps can chafe or cut the skin.)
* Some corset-wearers enjoy the feeling of being "hugged" by the corset.
* Corsets can instantly transform the figure without dieting, slimming drugs, or
cosmetic surgery.
* Due to their tightness and close proximity to the body, corsets can make the
wearer feel very warm. They have been most often worn in cool climates.

Disadvantages of Corsets

* The best corsets are custom made and personally-fitted. The more closely
clothing or lingerie clings to the body, the more carefully it must be fitted to
look and feel right. In modern times, when labor costs much more than materials,
custom clothing can be extremely expensive. Even finding a competent corsetiere
can be difficult.
* A badly-fitting corset can chafe, impede digestion, damage ribs, and pinch
nerves.
* Atrophy of abdominal muscles, therefore, high risk of lumbar problems.